Hits and Misses

When I saw the description for Art & Copy in the Cinematheque flyer I picked up a few weeks ago just before my date with A 2.0 the first person I thought of was my friend Nigel.

Nigel and I worked together at Good-Wooden Leg on different teams. Before Good-Wooden his career path took him through different radio creative departments. He is a smart dressed guy who loves the TV show Mad Men.

Last night I picked Nigel up and we had a night out that included taking in the film and enjoying some food and beers at the nearby King's Head Pub. Even though at one time I thought that I'd like to see the show with G, Nigel really was the perfect guy to join me.

I loved the show. We both did. I can't even really remember most of the details because I was so in love with it I was trying to memorize every word. Not only was it on a topic near and dear to me, but I could identify with it too. It was about ad campaigns and where the ideas came from, but it was also about creativity and creative people. It was about where the creativity comes from, the fears and the unique intelligence creative people have. Watching it I actually realized why I am always compelled to connect with people, even people who I should really just forget. It's part of me and who I am--I am driven to move, touch and influence people with my words. I believe in the power of good writing and I like seeing it work.

The film also showed a few agencies where the creative writers worked. They know how to nurture creativity, well hey, that's their business, right? I remember when I thought my career would have me working long hours at an agency. I used to dream that one day I'd see my picture or just my name in Marketing magazine. They showed this one place where the people had made a mural out of clear plastic push pins that spelled out Fail Harder. It's an interesting mantra when you think about it.

After the show Nigel and I went back to the pub for another drink. I've been missing my Good-Wooden buddies lately. I miss being around other writers. Even if our creativity was often quashed by an uber-conservative client, we supported one another. We were like family, complete with tiffs,  sibling rivalries and overbearing authority figures. I grew up with a lot of those people. They know me and they were there for me when I needed them last year.

"You'll keep in touch with the people who want to keep in touch," Nigel told me last night. I used to eat lunch with Nigel every day. I know he's right.

We talked about the film a lot and he gave me his thoughts on my eHarmony experience so far.

"I think you dodged a bullet with that one," he told me. It was what I needed to hear. All week I'd been hearing people telling me I should have done this or why don't I do that? And until he said it, I was actually contemplating trying something, using my words, just to see. It's who I am and what I do. Silence is not.

Nigel inspires me. Not only is he a good guy, a good friend, he also has this amazing love story (it could be a movie). So  I had a way better time with Nigel than I probably would have had with someone else, and I'm glad that the way things ended up was what was meant to be.